Word of the Week is "Ignore" (Post #26)

​So, here’s the question:  if I’m already challenged by my mandatory and very necessary truth, why in the world would I then seek additional and very unnecessary pain, by concerning myself with what EVERYBODY thinks of me?

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So, the Wednesday Word for this Week is IGNORE!

Ecclesiastes 7:21-22, “(21) Don’t eavesdrop on others—you may hear your servant curse you. (22) For you know how often you yourself have cursed others.”(NLT)

So, as much as we follow celebrities, and as much as we may dream of becoming superstars; I find in this day and age that there is a growing horror about actually BECOMING one. 

What is it you may ask?  Well in short, it’s the internet. 

Consider this if you will.  For a moment, I’d like for you to pretend that your name is “Kim Kardashian.” 

Now, for whatever you may think of her, know this:  she is an imperfect human-being, with a God-given soul, created by the Most High God, here for His purpose, and loved by Him immeasurably. 

Now, go to your computer or lift your phone.  Once you’re there, I want you to open your “Google” app and type these words in the search engine (ensure to use quotation marks for accuracy.)

Type in:  “Why I hate Kim Kardashian.” 

Once that’s complete, I want you to then press enter and observe the results.  

That’s right, “Wow” is the word. 

I say “wow” because I tried this myself.  And after I pressed enter, I can self-report that Google provided me with 17,800 results for Kim K. hatred IN LESS THAN 1 SECOND; and some of these things were nothing short of vile, hateful, and mean. 

Okay, now let’s do it again.  Only this time, instead of Kim K., I’d like for you to type in your full name:  “Why I hate (place your full name here.)”

Self-reporting again, I typed in “why I hate Kevin D. Jones, Sr.” and pressed enter.  After I pressed enter, Google gave me the following statement: 

“No results found for “why I hate Kevin D. Jones, Sr.”

Lucky me, right?  Well, after this experiment, I was faced with a real-world inquiry?

Question:  How would you respond to life, if (in less than a second) you could be confronted with over 10,000 intentional, direct, and undeniable insults about yourself?  Sure, we all may SAY that it wouldn’t bother us; however, I’d like for you to take a moment and really think about this. 

While our answers may differ here and there, there are indeed only 2 real categories for these responses.  We either, (A) engage it (and suffer all those consequences) or (B) ignore it. 

Let’s be honest, the phrase “sticks and stones, yadda, yadda, yadda…” is as about as honest as Santa, and told for the same weird reason as Santa.  FACT:  don’t act tough, words do hurt. 

In my life, I have a handful of people that I’ve given permission to tell me raw and uncut truth.  They know that if I ever need to be “brought back down to Earth,” these people have the green light to do it, with no penalty or repercussion.  In truth, I’ll admit that on some occasions these words did in fact hurt; however, they’ve always helped. 

So, here’s the question:  if I’m already challenged by my mandatory and very necessary truth, why in the world would I then seek additional and very unnecessary pain, by concerning myself with what EVERYBODY thinks of me?

Why would I or why do we care so much about what the irrelevant “he or she” said?  I think some of our greatest periods of WASTED time, are in worrying about other people’s opinions about us. 
I stand in awe as I ask, how has Kim made it this far?  Fact: we know depression, bullying, and suicide are all real.  Granted, I don’t know her current mental state; however, something has to be said for being this reviled and still living your life, right? 

Well, I think she maintains her sanity, because she’s concluded that what other people think about her is not only NOT her problem, but it’s also NONE OF HER BUSINESS.  She knows that with social elevation, comes social condemnation, and no one is exempt. 

Hate it or love, people are not always going to like what you’re doing and they won’t always like who you are, and that’s their right (even if they aren’t right about it.)

Ecclesiastes 7:21-22 reminds us that other peoples’ words about us, shouldn’t be our concern.  After all, the Word of God declares that we have all been guilty of condemning others, and I believe it to be true. 

Don’t believe me?  Consider this:  over 15,000 people directly condemned Kim, many of which probably don’t personally know here. 

Question:  not knowing her, have you ever been one of them?

Your thoughts?  Convicted?  Upset?  Agree?  Disagree?  Let me know below.  Peace and love family.

Imperfectly, 
​Kevin D. Jones, Sr.
@kevindjonessr